Reese's Purpose

One of the first questions Trista Hamsmith asks parents who have reached out to her with their own personal tragedy involving button battery injuries and fatalities is, "Has it been reported?"  Even as Reese's story was becoming a catalyst for change, garnering national attention, two of the doctors who treated Reese Hamsmith failed to report her ultimately fatal medical situation as caused by the ingestion of a button battery. The under reporting of battery related medical injuries and fatalities is suspected to be as large as 4 to 1, making this dangerous situation as much as 75% under reported and represented by statistical data.

In the short time since the Hamsmith family has had to endure their unimaginable situation they have crossed the paths of far too many other parents going through their own harrowing stories.  So many stories of avoidable suffering at the hands of button batteries that were too accessible or improperly disposed.  Trista Hamsmith has been invited to be a member of the Button Battery Commission as well as seeking out legislation that would make the reporting of all battery related incidents required by law.  As mentioned in the nonprofit's goal of creating awareness, the under reporting of these injuries leaves statistical data inaccurately representing the scope and depth these battery related devastations.   

It is the goal of Reese's Purpose to not only educate the public about the dangers of button batteries and influence legislation changes in the safety standards, incident reporting of button battery injuries, and proper disposal of button batteries, but also to financially help families in situations like ours.  Our community really rallied behind our family and we want our nonprofit to be there to rally around families in situations similar to Reese's who may not have the same kind of community surrounding them that we had.